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The Kingdom of Israel
John Shepard
April 8, 2002
Revelation - Verse by Verse Commentary
This article describes an amillennial interpretation of the book of Revelation.
I highly recommend the following book which is an excellent commentary of the book of Revelation:
"The Apocalypse and the Third Millennium," by George Montague.
Links to topics:
Date of Writing | Principles of Interpretation | Key Interpretation Points | System of Interpretation | Is There a Temple? | 3 1/2 Years | The Roman Emperors | The "Unholy Trinity" | The 7 Seals
Links to other articles:
Glossary of Symbols | Key Issues
End Time Prophecy Leads to Rome | The Kingdom of Israel
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 (seal 7) | 9 (trumpet 5 6) | 9 | 10 | 11 (trumpet 7) | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 (bowls) | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22
Seal Judgments | Trumpet & Bowl JudgmentsSoon -- The impending tribulation. 22:6
The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. (Rev 22:6)
Also used in Rom 16:20 -- The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The phrase "soon crush Satan under your feet" might refer to the acceptance of Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire under Constantine which resulted in an end of the persecution.
In Romans 16:20, Paul is emphasizing both the certainty and the rest that will come as a result, and how in the grand scheme of things, it will seem like this time of trial was very brief. That the word "soon" means this is clear, because Christ already defeated Satan at the cross, and will "crush him under their feet" at the second coming (parousia) and final judgment. Even Full Preterists have difficulty explaining this in any other way, since Satan was defeated at the cross and is still defeated today, over 1,900 years later. There was no additional defeat of Satan in 70 A.D.
Note that the events in the book of Revelation take place "soon." Full Preterists believe this all happened in 70 A.D. but I reject this view (more info).
The persecuted believers who first read the book of Revelation would find it encouraging to know that God's judgment of wickedness is assured.
There is a sense in which the future events predicted in the book of Revelation would take place soon. A few examples:
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Also used in Mat 3:2 -- Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.
This emphasizes God's urgency in judging those who persecute Christians, which would be a comfort to those enduring persecution.
The word prophecy refers to: (1) foretelling the future (prediction), as well as (2) telling it like it is (illumination). The book of Revelation is prophetic in both these senses:
(1) Predictive prophecy:
(2) Illuminative prophecy:
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Refers to God the Father, who is always present. Verses 4 and 5 contain a reference to the three persons of the Trinity.
Compare Rev 17:8-11 -- The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction."
God is eternal, but the Beast and the kings of this world are limited by the bounds of time and operate within the bounds of time.
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Note that this is a present truth, not reserved for the future (in the millennium as premillennialists believe).
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In contrast, premillennialism insists that believers will have a physical, political, carnal rule over the inhabitants of the 1,000 year millennium. But amillennialism acknowledges that each believer rules and reigns with Christ NOW (in the church age):
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This is not the rapture because in the rapture the only people who see him are those who are raptured. But this verse says that every eye will see Him (including people who died centuries before).
When Christ comes for final judgment (1) the wicked will mourn because they will be judged for their sins, and (2) the righteous will mourn as they consider that Christ had to pay the penalty for their sins by His suffering and dying.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. . . "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9,11)
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Emphasizing Christ's resurrection and applying it to us -- we will also be resurrected, and when we are there will be no more death. This happens once -- not several times as premillennialists claim. When we are resurrected (at the second coming) death is abolished. Compare:
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (Rev 20:13-14)
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(1) What you have seen (in these visions),
(2) What is now -- the current situation of the first readers (persecution, martyrdom, believers in heaven),
(3) What will take place later -- there is a future prophetic element -- it concerns the future persecution of Christians, the fall of Jerusalem and Rome, the second coming, final judgment, and the eternal state.
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This refers to the guardian angels of the local churches, and to the authoritative leaders of
This supports the view of the Catholic Church that it is the visible church.
This verse affirms that Christ is working in His church -- that we can trust Him.
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Not only is there persecution from (1) the Romans and (2) the Jews and Judiazers: there are also false teachers within the Church. In the history of the church this issue comes up again and again.
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Not an event in the far future as premillennialists claim. The trial is for testing.
A common theme in the book of Revelation is the persecution of believers. This had already begun in the Roman province of Asia (where John and the 7 churches were located) and would intensify and spread over a wide area for several centuries.
Some premillennialists of the pre-tribulational rapture variety apply this verse to the great tribulation which precedes the second coming of Christ. They claim that God keeps them from the hour of trial (the great tribulation) by rapturing them first. But John is speaking specifically to the church that existed at the time he wrote the book and clearly expects his words to apply directly to those readers.
The word "trial" could be better translated as "temptation" (as in the KJV). Another passage using this word:
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Cor 10:13)
The temptation they will experience is to renounce their faith under intense persecution. But as Paul affirms, God will provide a way out so they can stand up under it.
It is a common theme in the New Testament that God will test the faith of every believer to prove which will endure to the end (by being faithful unto death).
Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. (2 Thess 1:4-5)
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Not the rapture as many premillennialists claim. The scene now shifts to heaven and the throne of God.
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The 24 elders refer to the 12 tribes of Israel plus the 12 apostles representing all believers of all ages. Notice their activities:
The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne. . . (Rev 4:10)
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God (Rev 11:16)
From Strong's Exhaustive Concordance we learn that the word "crown" refers to: a chaplet as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games, or a symbol of honor generally, but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet. A chaplet is a wreath worn on the head whereas a fillet is a narrow band or ribbon.
Even Jesus had a crown as illustrated by the following verse using the same word:
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. (John 19:2)
But the crown in Rev 4:4 is made of gold and is a reward.
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Some parallel verses and an observation:
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. (Rev 8:5)
Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (Rev 11:19)
Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. (Rev 16:18)
These occur (respectively) after:
The 6th seal judgment and the 7th trumpet and bowl judgments represent the final judgment (second coming of Christ, destruction of the world, great white throne judgment). The significance of the associated natural phenomena is that they symbolically represent God's power and holiness in judgment. So in Rev 4:5 we see that God is always holy and just, because that is His nature.
Two passages that equate the flash of lightning with God's judgment:
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. (Ps 1-5)
He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal. I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish. Were you angry with the rivers, O LORD? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode with your horses and your victorious chariots? You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers; the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high. Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear. In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. (Hab 3:6-12)
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The sea is a symbol of God's holiness. Later we have the sea of glass mixed with fire (the Lake of Fire) (15:2). It is significant that the Lake of Fire, the final place of eternal judgment, is expressed in terms of God's holiness. God expresses His holiness by permanently judging sin.
The word "sea" is also used in another context -- the earthly ocean representing:
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But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. (Dan 12:4)
The time of the end in Daniel 12:4 is the church age, and the words of Daniel's scroll are revealed in the book of Revelation, in the scroll with the 7 seals. Once we have knowledge about God's plan (the church age, the second coming, final judgment, and the eternal state), then we can read Daniel's scroll. But John doesn't emphasize the contents of the scroll, only the seals that prevent us from reading it.
Premillennialists commonly claim that the scroll is the title deed to the earth, but this is only significant in the context of their view in which Christ, at His second coming, takes possession of the earth. In amillennialism the issue is irrelevant because Christ has already defeated Satan at the cross.
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Note that Christ has already triumphed -- it is not a future event. The 7 seals are not future prophecies (except seals 6 and 7 which refer to final judgment). Rather, the 7 seals describe present realities at the time the book of Revelation was written. These issues continue into the future until the final judgment.
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It is Christ's sacrificial death that makes Him worthy. Because of this, believers are now a kingdom and priests who will reign on the earth for the duration of the church age which continues until the second coming of Christ and the final judgment.
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These give a sweeping panoramic view of human history -- the issues that will be faced by all generations of believers. These are not events in a chronological sequence but rather are a list of key issues.
The scroll is opened after the 7 seals are broken.
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That people will use weapons to conquer others and that this will continue for the duration of human history.
Bow -- The Parthinians, who were only mounted archers of the first century A.D. across the Euphrates River. Rome considered them quite a threat. See Nero Redivivus myth.
Some say that this refers to Christ, who rules and reigns in His church. I don't care for this view because it seems to me that the four horses are referring to similar things, but Christ's victory on the cross is altogether different.
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Red -- Bloodshed.
Sword -- Warfare.
That people will kill each other and that there will continue to be wars throughout human history.
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This is the black horse which represents famine. A day's wages will buy only enough food for a day -- there will be poverty for the masses.
Oil & wine -- These are not luxury items but are staples. They represent a severe famine but not a total famine. The image refers to the Roman plan to cut down olive orchards and vineyards and to replace them with grain fields to survive a famine.
An alternate interpretation is that there will be plenty of oil and wine and that they represent luxuries that only the wealthy can afford. The well-to-do will survive but there well be poverty for the masses. This represents economic injustice.
Some see the images of oil (= Holy Spirit) and wine (= joy) as symbolic, but I prefer to understand them in their literal meaning. Otherwise, we should symbolize the images of wheat and barley also.
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Pale -- Pestilence & death.
That death will continue for the remainder of human history. This is from all causes including the sword, famine, disease, and wild animals.
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Special emphasis on Christian martyrs. This will continue for the remainder of human history.
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In response to a question by the martyrs, Christ returns and judges the world.
They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (Rev 6:10)
Chapter 34 of Isaiah concerns final judgment.
All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. (Isa 34:4)
This passage cross-references with the Olivet Discourse.
Immediately after the distress of those days "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. (Mat 24:29-30)
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After an interlude (Chapter 7)
Verse 1 (Chapter 8) -- When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.The rest of the eternal state.
The word "silence" is used in these ways:
It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to silence. (Psa 115:17)
You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. (Isa 25:5)
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An interlude between the second coming of Christ and final judgment (Seal 6) and the eternal state (Seal 7). We are introduced to the redeemed who will inhabit heaven. These are represented by the 144,000.
Do not harm until. . . -- During the destruction of the 6th seal, which is the destruction of the earth by fire.
Seal on the foreheads -- Indicates the redemption of believers by faith. God seals those who are His. Only then will He destroy the world by fire -- after He has redeemed His own. Since the 144,000 refer specifically to martyrs from the early centuries of the Church, the sealing also represents the special grace that God gives to martyrs which allows them to persevere until the end.
These 144,000 appear later in the book:
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. . . . And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Rev 14:1-3)
The 144,000 represent all believers (the church = Israel). Note that only they could sing the new song, meaning that only they are redeemed (Old Testament believers are included in the ranks of the redeemed). The 144,000 refer specifically to martyrs from the early centuries of the Church.
The land, sea and trees are destroyed in the first two trumpet judgments and the first two bowl judgments. In this passage, these first two judgments represent all the judgments (which are parallel judgments). By delaying these judgments until the servants of God (= believers) are sealed, God is affirming that they will escape the final judgment.
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Palm branches -- Victory and rejoicing after war.
The image of the "great multitude" is the same as the 144,000. They have palm branches because they acknowledge Christ as Messiah.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13)
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The great tribulation is the persecution and martyrdom of the entire church age, specifically for the first few centuries after the book of Revelation was written. It includes the persecution by Domitian, by the Romans until Constantine, and throughout the church age.
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Our prayers are effective. When persecuted believers cry out to God, He responds. God receives these prayers (incense), and His judgment on the unrighteous is just, in part because persecuted believers ask God to avenge them.
The 7 trumpet judgments and final judgment are in response to these prayers.
The destruction of the world immediately before final judgment will be by fire:
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2 Pet 3:7)
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Pet 3:10)
That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. (2 Pet 3:12)
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The Trumpet judgments are not events in chronological sequence -- rather they are general themes concerning God's judgment.
The Trumpet judgments are judgments of thirds, which refer to God's warning the people so that they will repent. If they don't repent, then God will judge them completely with the bowl judgments. A passage using the imagery of thirds:
In the context of judgment on the enemies of Jerusalem (Zech chapter 13), 2/3 are struck down and perish, but 1/3 are brought into the fire, refined and tested -- then they will call on God's name. This indicates a partial judgment in which the wicked are judged, but the righteous are refined.
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it." (Zechariah 13:7-8)
The Trumpet and the Bowl judgments are parallel -- that is to say, each one has similar images. To highlight this I analyze both sets of judgments together in this article.
Many of the images in the Trumpet and Bowl judgments come from the plagues against Egypt during the time of Moses. In these judgments against Egypt we see a pattern in which God:
The warning and the destruction were really one and the same thing. If Pharaoh had not hardened his heart, the judgments would have been avoided. This is the significance of the Trumpet judgments.
References to these plagues on Egypt:
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That God will judge the land (and the people in it).
God sends a warning by destroying the land and crops (as in the plagues in Exodus). If the people won't repent, then God will judge them personally (as indicated by the boils). The principle is that God will send more and more severe warnings to persuade people to repent from their sin. The final conclusion of this process is that people who refuse to repent will end up judged in hell.
In the First Trumpet judgment we have images from the Old Testament referring to God's judgment. In the following passage from Joel, the context is the church age which brings salvation followed by final judgment for those who rejected God.
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (Joel 2:30)
The following passage shows the images of fire (lightning) and hail representing God's judgment.
The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail. (Isa 30:30)
In the seventh plague on Egypt we have a judgment on the land, the people, and the animals using the same images as in the first Trumpet judgment. So the first Trumpet represents God redeeming His people, which is now the Church.
When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt; hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields -- both men and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. (Ex 9:23-25)
In the First Bowl judgment we have a reference to the sixth plague of Egypt in which God judged the Egyptians who would not let His people go. So the first Bowl represents God redeeming His people, which is now the Church.
It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land. (Ex 9:9)
One of the curses on the nation of Israel for disobedience was boils, so the first Bowl judgment concerns judgment for disobedience.
The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured. (Deut 28:27)
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That God will judge the sea (and the people on it).
The image of the sea turning into blood is from the miracles of Moses during the Exodus.
The image of the burning mountain refers to Mt. Sinai at the giving of the law (Ex. 19:16-22).
The image of the mountain thrown into the sea was used by Jesus in the context of His cursing the fig tree which didn't produce figs (even though it wasn't the season for figs).
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done." (Mat 21:21)
The point of this illustration was to demonstrate to the disciples that they would be given authority by God to command even the physical realm, and that God would honor their requests. They never had occasion to command a mountain to throw itself into the sea, but they did many amazing miracles. God used these miracles to validate their apostolic authority and to confirm the truth of the gospel message.
In the 2nd Trumpet, God warns people to honor his law (given at Mt. Sinai) and to honor the gospel of the apostles (whose message was validated by the miracles they did). If people won't obey and repent, then God will judge them with the 2nd bowl judgment, which speaks of death and the removal of life giving blessing.
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That God will judge the drinking water (and the people who depend on it).
The image of the rivers turning into blood is from the miracles of Moses during the Exodus.
In the 3rd Trumpet judgment the waters become bitter, but in the 3rd Bowl judgment they become blood, signifying death.
The image of the great star is a continuation of the image of the hail and fire (1st trumpet), which becomes a fiery mountain (2nd trumpet), and then becomes a fiery star (3rd trumpet). These images refer to the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. If people will not respond to God's law and repent, then He will judge them.
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An image of the scorching sun from Jonah:
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." (Jonah 4:8)
Another image from the words of Christ:
But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (Mat 13:6)
There are other passages in Psalm 68:6 and Isaiah 58:11 with these images.
That God will judge the heavenly bodies (and the people who depend on them -- specifically the sun). This refers to the plague of darkness (Ex. 10:21-29). In the 4th Trumpet judgment, God is warning about the destruction of the world by fire that precedes the final judgment. In the 4th Bowl judgment, we see a preview of God's judgment on them, and they are cast into the fire of hell. Notice that they no longer have the ability to repent.
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Throne of the beast -- Rome.
In the three woes (trumpets 5 - 7), God is judging the larger spiritual realms and the people who worship the forces of darkness.
The 3 woes:
Woe 1 -- Satan rules in the hearts of men.
Woe 2 -- Satan rules the worldly kingdoms.
Woe 3 -- God's final judgment.
In the 5th Trumpet judgment, we see that God will judge those who will not worship Him by allowing Satan to destroy them, and we get a preview of what it is like (in this life and in hell) without God's blessings.
In the 5th Trumpet judgment we see the demonic oppression of those who don't belong to God. In the 5th Bowl judgment, we get a preview of their judgment and suffering in hell.
The smoke that rises from the Abyss reminds us of the smoke that fills the tent of meeting in the presence of God, but here it refers to the presence of Satan. The locusts remind us of plagues of locusts which destroy the land often as a judgment from God for disobedience (see Ex. 10:1-20). Here the locusts are not physical, but spiritual and they destroy the souls of men. The boils refer to the boils on the Egyptians in the time of the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 9:8-12).
Note that the fifth Trumpet judgment in not on the people who are sealed by God, the believers.
In the following passage about Satan, the word "pit" refers to the "Abyss."
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. (Isa 14:12-15)
An application of the 5th Bowl judgment is the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D.
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In Isaiah 11:15-16 there is a similar passage in which the Euphrates River is dried up so the remnant can return from captivity in Assyria. This event is similar to the crossing of the Red Sea which speaks of God's miraculous intervention.
The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt. (Isa 11:15-16)
But in Revelation Chapter 9 the idea is that it will be troops who cross the Euphrates, and they will kill unbelievers. In Revelation 16 the river is dried up for the kings from the east -- but these kings have been deceived by spirits of demons (who are associated with the Unholy Trinity, (1) Dragon, (2) Beast, (3) False Prophet). The Parthinians are beyond the Euphrates River.
Some background from an event in the Old Testament will be helpful.
While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo. (2 Ki 23:29)
In the parallel account in 2 Chr 35:20-22 we learn that Josiah attacked Pharaoh Neco in disobedience to God. The idea is that those who oppose God (by attacking the Egyptians in disobedience to God) will be killed at Megiddo (Armageddon).
There is a contrast between:
(1) The redeemed remnant from Assyria (representing all believers) who are saved by God when He dries up the Euphrates River (Isa 11:15-16), and
(2) The unsaved who are destroyed in judgment by God when the demonic powers of darkness persuade them to disobey God.
Another passage regarding the Euphrates River:
In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one. And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. (Isa 27:12-13)
That God will judge (destroy by death) those who disobey Him. The Euphrates River formed a protective barrier for the kingdom of Assyria, protecting it from its enemies. The symbolism of the Euphrates drying up is that people's enemies can harm them once the river dries up. This happened historically in the case of Babylon, which is on the Euphrates River. The Persians captured the city by damming the river and sneaking under the walls. In the same way, by drying up the water, the kingdom of Satan can rule the world, is symbolized by Babylon as the worldly kingdom of Satan.
The kings of the East also refer to the barbarians who conquered Rome, as well as and to the Islamic invasion.
The River Euphrates refers to Babylon since the river goes through Babylon.
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The second coming, the destruction of the world, final judgment. The images are from Exodus 9:13-35 and refer to final judgment. The Ark of the Covenant represents God's presence.
In the 7th bowl judgment God's wrath is completed.
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That God will judge those who will not worship Him, but that He will allow Satan to destroy them. A preview of what it is like (in this life and in hell) without God's blessings.
The locusts refer to demonic oppression which rules during the early church centuries and the entire church age, resulting in the persecution and martyrdom of believers.
Note that the fifth Trumpet judgment is not on the people who are sealed by God, the believers.
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The 2nd Woe -- 6th Trumpet judgment
That God will judge (destroy by death) those who disobey Him.
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Still within the context of the 2nd woe -- Trumpet 6
That God will judge (destroy by death) those who disobey Him.
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The 7th Trumpet is the end of the world and final judgment.
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The 7th Trumpet is the second coming, the destruction of the world, final judgment.
The word "days" refers to the church age and this passage concerns the time immediately before the second coming.
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This passage is from Ezekiel in which the prophet is given the task of speaking the word of the Lord to His people who would reject it.
Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. . . . But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate." (Eze 3:3,4,7)
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Still within the context of the 2nd Woe -- 6th Trumpet judgment.
That God will judge (destroy by death) those who disobey Him.
Note the similarities to Ezekiel chapters 40-48.
Not measured -- Left unprotected.
Temple -- The Church as the remnant of true believers -- The woman of 12:6.
Outer court -- The Church in its physical form as Christendom. Not all are redeemed. The wheat and tares (Mat 13:24-30).
Gentiles -- Unbelievers who trample (persecute) the church for the church age.
At the time the book of Revelation was written the temple in Jerusalem had already been destroyed. Yet there is still a temple of God -- the church.
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." (2 Cor 6:16)
When the Israelites were in their 70 year captivity there was no temple, but there was the hope of one in the future, after the captivity was over. At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation there was no temple, nor was there a need for one because the Church is the temple.
There are two ways in which the 42 months (3 1/2 years) is significant:
These verses speak of God's judgment on unbelievers of all ages for their disobedience. The unbelieving nation of Israel was judged of God by the Gentile Romans who trampled the city of Jerusalem before destroying it in 70 A.D. Just as God even judged His own people who rejected Him, so He will also judge all unbelievers.
The outer court of the temple represents unbelievers of all ages (God's holiness is trampled on) and the inner court represents believers of all ages (who worship at the altar).
The holy city is Jerusalem which refers to the church.
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The two witnesses represent the Church as the body of Christ that warns the world that it is about to be judged.
The two witnesses are based on a composite of images from the Old Testament:
The common elements of all these images are that they all concern prophets sent to redeem God's people, either from: (1) God's judgment of their sin (by warning them to repent), or (2) oppression from their enemies and persecution.
This passage is still part of the 6th Trumpet judgment, which is the 2nd Woe. The 7th Trumpet judgment -- the destruction of the world and final judgment, which is the third and final woe -- follows shortly.
Notice that this passage is modeled on the ministry of Christ. He first warns the people and teaches them for 3 1/2 years; then He is killed by those who have rejected His message; He is scorned and laughed at by the people; then He is raised from the dead and ascended to heaven.
Christ is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and His covenant is a fulfillment of the Old Covenant. The reference to Moses and Elijah is a reference to the law and the prophets, which represents the Old Covenant. Christ is acting in the role of prophet (represented by Elijah), and the role of redeemer/deliverer (represented by Moses). Those who reject Christ will be judged.
3 1/2 years
1,260 days = 3 1/2 years (360 days per year). Three uses:
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:17)
2 olive trees
A related passage that explains the two witnesses (the 2 olive trees and the 2 lampstands):
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?" So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth." (Zech 4:12,14)
In the context of the passage in Zechariah, we see that these two are:
(1) Zerubbabel (God's anointed king), and
(2) Joshua (God's high priest).
The two olive trees represent the role of true kingship and true priesthood. Of course, only Christ fulfills these images.
A related passage that explains the two olive trees:
"Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." (Zech 4:3,6)
The two olive trees represent the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The image of the 2 witnesses refers to Christ who empowers the church to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fire from their mouths
A few additional passages concerning the two witnesses:
Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. (2 Ki 1:10)
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" (Luke 9:54)
Explanation
This passage is not a prophecy of the future as premillennialists claim, but an interpretation of the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. In the passage, the 2 witnesses prophesied for about 3 1/3 years (four years) while the Jewish War was going on, and they were invincible during this time (just as Elijah was invincible and called fire down from heaven on those who tried to harm him).
But God destroyed Israel for their disobedience to Him and established the New Covenant, the church, to replace it. During the approximately 3 1/2 years while God was destroying Jerusalem, the church (the 2 witnesses) was busy preaching the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this was to confirm that He was now working through the church.
The image of the two witnesses refers to believers since they are the "body of Christ."
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Images concerning Elijah showing that the church has power in the Holy Spirit.
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" (Luke 9:54)
Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. (2 Ki 1:10)
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These are images from Elijah's and Moses' miracles demonstrating that the church is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." (1 Ki 17:1)
Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. (Exo 7:20)
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And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Col 2:15)
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At the end of the Church Age there is the destruction of the world and the judgment of the wicked. The very next event is the 7th Trumpet judgment -- the destruction of the world and final judgment.
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The 3rd Woe -- 7th Trumpet
The second coming, the destruction of the world, final judgment.
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The dragon -- the 1st person of the "Unholy Trinity."
The images are from Joseph's dream:
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" (Gen 37:9-10)
Israel gives birth to the Messiah. Note that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also referred to since she is the one who gave birth to Jesus. By way of application she represents the Church. Some might object to considering Mary as "the woman" in these verses, but the first readers of the book of Revelation would have certainly thought of Mary when reading this passage.
The Woman -- Israel and the Church.
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The child -- the Church.
The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan. . . . (Rev 12:9)
Dragon -- Satan attempted to kill Jesus at birth.
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. (Mat 2:16)
Satan's rebellion in heaven resulted in 1/3 of the angels following him. Since then their unholy activities have been directed upon the earth, and especially upon humans.
The dragon has 7 heads, 10 horns and 7 crowns -- a crown for each head. The Beast of 13:1 has 7 heads, 10 horns and 10 crowns -- a crown for each horn. From 17:9-10 we see that the 7 heads represent 7 hills and 7 kings. Five of these kings have fallen, one is, and one has not yet come. From 17:12 we see that the 10 horns represent 10 kings of the future (from the time the book was written).
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The word "son" refers to Jesus.
Snatched up to God -- the ascension of Christ.
The image of ruling with an iron scepter relates to judgment of the wicked (and not to the maintenance of a kingdom as premillennialists claim).
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. (Psa 2:9)
"He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery" -- just as I have received authority from my Father. (Rev 2:27)
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (Rev 19:15)
Snatched up = resurrection (not rapture).
Taken care of -- Refers to the manna in the desert.
The image of "fleeing to the desert" for safety reminds us of the Israelites in Sinai during the Exodus. And since the Church = Israel, this reminds us that God will protect the Church through all persecution.
The woman fled to the desert. During the approximate 3 1/2 years of the Jewish War which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the true believers were protected by heeding the words of Christ in Mat 24:15-20 and fleeing Jerusalem. The young church managed to keep itself out of the rebellion against the Romans. Since the early church was considered to be merely a sect of Judaism it required supernatural intervention to ensure that the Romans didn't destroy it. But the Jewish War is a sign that God is finished with His chosen nation of Israel and is now operating through the church -- this is the significance of the approximate 3 1/2 year Jewish War. What a shocking thing it must have been for those who lived through the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as they realized that the church really is the New Covenant.
The image of 3 1/2 years also refers to the Church Age. God will protect the Church from the attacks of Satan during the entire Church Age because Satan is "bound" for the duration of the Church Age.
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This corresponds to the victory of Christ on the cross and His resurrection.
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Rev 20:2)
Satan no longer has power over believers for the entire church age. He can't accuse the believers (like he could in the book of Job.)
Note that Satan lost the war in heaven and as a result was hurled down to the earth.
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Satan pursued the woman -- this refers to the persecution against Jews and the nation of Israel throughout history. One way Satan did this was by stirring up the Jewish revolutionaries whose activities against the Romans resulted in the Jewish War of 66-70 A.D. The woman also refers to the Church, and Satan has been trying to destroy the Church and believers, and will continue to do so during the entire Church Age.
Time, times and half a time -- See verse 6 for comments on the 3 1/2 years. The 3 1/2 years also refers to the persecution of Christians by Domitian, which lasted 3 1/2 years until his death.
The desert -- Christ saves and protects the Church. Throughout the Old Testament people would flee to the desert for safety. For example, King David did this.
The rest of her offspring -- This refers to:
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Verses 1-10 -- The first Beast, 2nd person of the Unholy Trinity.
Verses 11-18 -- The False Prophet, 3rd person of the Unholy Trinity.
The Unholy Trinity
Blasphemous name -- emperor worship.
The Beast is a composite of 3 world empires. Specifically it represents the Roman Empire of their day, and generally it represents the idea of political rulership by ungodly rulers.
The first three beasts are from Daniel chapter 7 but are in reverse order.
The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. . . . And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. . . . After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. . . . (Dan 7:4-6)
The sea represents all the peoples of the world, signifying that Satan, who empowers the Beast, operates through people.
The seven heads refer to the 7 hills of Rome and to 7 kings who are 7 Roman Emperors (17:9).
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Nero is the fifth head of the Beast and the head that had a fatal wound. Based on the Nero Redivivus Myth, Domitian is the "incarnation" of Nero. Domitian came after Titus, who was the seventh head (See 17:10 for more info).
Mortal wound healed -- Nero's suicide in 68 A.D., followed by a year of civil war which threatened the existence of the empire. With Vespasian, the Beast came to life again.
They worshipped Satan (the dragon) and the Beast because they participated in the emperor worship that Nero and Domitian demanded. Later Roman emperors also demanded to be worshipped.
The Nero Redivivus Myth
At the time John wrote the book of Revelation the Nero Redivivus myth was widely known. An early version of this myth appears in Book V of the Sibylline Oracles, which was written about 80 A.D. This is before the time that the book of Revelation was written. A later version of the Nero Redivivus myth declared that Nero had in fact died but that he would be resurrected (but certainly John did not believe that Nero would be resurrected). In the Nero Redivivus myth it is claimed that in the near future Nero would return to Rome with an army of Parthinians to conquer Rome and take possession of the Empire. The Parthinians were the only mounted archers in the first century and they lived beyond the Euphrates River.
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Just as Domitian considered himself to be deity, all ungodly world rulers in some sense consider their own power to originate from their own innate abilities (rather than given by God).
The 42 months is the approximate duration of the Jewish War (lasting four years), in which Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. It is also the duration of the persecution of Christians by Domitian. The Beast represents the rulership of Rome and the images in the next few verses are a potpourri of indictments against the Romans, and by application all political governments for the duration of the church age (represented by the time period of 3 1/2 years).
According to Josephus, Nero is the Roman Emperor who declared war on the Jews. This declaration of war against God's chosen nation was one of his many blasphemies.
The phrase "conquer the saints" refers to the persecution of believers during the Church Age.
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The images of captivity and of being killed refer to the persecution of believers. We must remember that one of the purposes for the book of Revelation is to encourage those believers who were being persecuted and martyred to endure even unto death if necessary.
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This beast is the False Prophet. 16:13, 19:20 & 20:10.
The False Prophet represents the false religious systems of the world with a particular application for the first readers of the book of Revelation to Roman emperor worship.
The False Prophet pretends to have a redemptive role just a Christ (the lamb) did, but in reality he speaks the lies of Satan.